§. 4. 1. One pretence for Schism is (Usurped) Authority, which some one Church may claim t• Command others that owe them no subjection: Thus Pride which is the Spirit of Hell, having crep• into the Church of Christ, and animated Usurpations of Lordship and Dominion, and contending for superiority, hath caused the most dangerous Schisms in the Church, that ever it was infested with. The Bishop of Rome (advantaged by the Seat and Constitution of that Empire) having claimed the Government of all the Christian world, condemneth all the Churches that will not be his subjects: And •o hath made himself the Head of a Sect, and of the most pernicious Schism that ever did rend the Church of Christ: And the Bishop of Constantinople, and too many more, have followed the same Method in a lower degree, exalting themselves above their Brethren, and giving them Laws▪ and then condemning and persecuting them that obey them not. And when they have imposed upon other Churches, their own usurped Authority and Laws, they have laid the plot to call all men Schismatics and Sectaries, that own not their tyrannical Usurpation, and that will not be Schismatics and Sectaries with them: And the cheat lieth in this, that they confound the Churches Unity, with their pretended Authority, and Schism with the refusal of subjection to them. If you will not take them for your Lords, they cry out that you divide from the Church: As if we could hold Communion with no Churches, but those whose Bishops we obey? Communion with other Churches is maintained by Faith and Charity, and Agreement in things necessary, without subjection to them. As we may hold all just Communion with the Churches in Armenia, Arabia, Russia, without subjection to their Bishops, so may we with any other Church besides that of which we are members. Division or Schism is contrary to Unity and Concord, and not to a Usurped Government: Though disobedience to the Pastors which God hath set over us, is a sin, and dividing from them, is a Schism. Both the Pope and all the lower Usurpers, should do well first to show their Commission from God to be our Rulers, before they call it Schism to refuse their Government.
§. 4. 1. One pretence for Schism is (Usurped) Authority, which some one Church may claim t• Command others that owe them no subjection: Thus Pride which is the Spirit of Hell, having crep• into the Church of Christ, and animated Usurpations of Lordship and Dominion, and contending for superiority, hath caused the most dangerous Schisms in the Church, that ever it was infested with. The Bishop of Rome (advantaged by the Seat and Constitution of that Empire) having claimed the Government of all the Christian world, condemneth all the Churches that will not be his subjects: And •o hath made himself the Head of a Sect, and of the most pernicious Schism that ever did rend the Church of Christ: And the Bishop of Constantinople, and too many more, have followed the same Method in a lower degree, exalting themselves above their Brethren, and giving them Laws▪ and then condemning and persecuting them that obey them not. And when they have imposed upon other Churches, their own usurped Authority and Laws, they have laid the plot to call all men Schismaticks and Sectaries, that own not their tyrannical Usurpation, and that will not be Schismaticks and Sectaries with them: And the cheat lyeth in this, that they confound the Churches Unity, with their pretended Authority, and Schism with the refusal of subjection to them. If you will not take them for your Lords, they cry out that you divide from the Church: As if we could hold Communion with no Churches, but those whose Bishops we obey? Communion with other Churches is maintained by Faith and Charity, and Agreement in things necessary, without subjection to them. As we may hold all just Communion with the Churches in Armenia, Arabia, Russia, without subjection to their Bishops, so may we with any other Church besides that of which we are members. Division or Schism is contrary to Unity and Concord, and not to a Usurped Government: Though disobedience to the Past•rs which God hath set over us, is a sin, and dividing from them, is a Schism. Both the Pope and all the lower Usurpers, should do well first to shew their Commission from God to be our Rulers, before they call it Schism to refuse their Government.
